Ten player Dinamo qualifies for the final

Algarve, Portugal, 5.2.2012.

Atlantic Cup, 3. round

GNK Dinamo - FC Midtjylland 1:1 (1:0)

Spectators: 100

Dinamo: Kelava - Leko, Tonel, Šimunić (46. Vida), Ibanez (32. Pivarić) - Calello, Badelj - Tomečak (86. Pokrivač), Kovačić (46. Beqiraj) (86. Rukavina), Sylvestr (86. Sammir) - Krstanović (32. Vrsaljko)

Midjtylland: Lossl - Afriyie, Bak, Lauridsen, Ipša (29. Sviatchenko), Albaek - Poulsen, Hassan (76. Borring), Nworuh (76. Salami) - Uzochukwu (76. Larsen), Igboun

Yellow cards: Vida (64.) / Bak (65.), Salami (81.)

Red card: Leko (12.)

Goals: 1:0 Tonel (6.) / 1:1 Poulsen (90.)

Dinamo qualified for the Atlantic Cup final! Even though Modri played most of the game with 10 players, they managed to keep the lead until additional time when Midtjylland scored and earned themselves a rematch in the final.

Dinamo coach Ante Čačić said that he will rest several players because a draw against Midtjylland was enough to secure the final; so he did. Domagoj Vida and Šime Vrsaljko found themselves on the bench while Mehmed Alispahić was suspended so Jerko Leko opened the game at right back and Mateo Kovačić as playmaker.

Modri strongly opened the game and in the first couple of minutes fully dominated the game and got the lead. It was Kovačić who made chances for Tomečak and Krstanović but couple of minutes later Tonel did what they didn't. Kovačić made a cross from a corner kick, Tomečak slightly touched the ball just to curve it for Tonel whose header ended in the net; it was the 6th minute of the game.

The lead didn't change much on the field and Dinamo continued to dominate and create chances but the event from the 12th minute certainly changed everything. Nworuh snuck behind the defensive line and rushed towards Kelava but Leko caught and brought him down. The referee didn't think much before showing Leko red card and way to the dressing room.

As the time went on, Midtjylland more and more took over control of the game but there were no real chances in the first half. At the beginning of the second half Modri had couple of great chances that could have decided the winner. Sylvestr had a chance in the 52nd minute and Tomečak had a great one six minutes later after a mistake from Sviatchenko but he didn't score.

In the 72nd minute Dinamo had a chance that should have ended with a goal. Once again great Badelj did most of the job and found Pivarić which opened a 3 on 1 situation but - Dinamo didn't score because Beqiraj  and Tomečak reacted poorly. As usual in football, penalty came in additional time. Badelj tackled Olsen in the box and the referee saw that as a penalty which Poulsen converted into a draw.

It was a shame that Dinamo didn't secure another win because Modri, despite being a man down, played a good game and deserved the victory. Never the less, this draw takes both of this teams into the final that will be played on Tuesday.